Resilient sheave



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l1, 1949 6501965 HHN/SH ATTOR N EYS April 13, 1954 G. HElNlsl-l RESILIENT sHEAvE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, '1949 GEORGE HEIN/SH April 13, 1954 G. HEINISH RESILIENT sHEAvE Filed June 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y ZZ GEORGE HHN/5H ATTORN EYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GEORGE HE/N/SH ATTORNEYS April 13, 1954 G. HE|NlsH RESILIENT sHEAvE Filed June ll, 1949 Patented Apr. 13, 1954 RESILIENT SHEA'VE George Heinish, Akron, Ohio, assigner, by menne assignments, to The S. D. M. Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation 0f Delaware Application June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,550

6 Claims. (Cl. I4-230.01)

This invention relates to resilient sheaves and more particularly sheaves which are used in well drilling equipment, but which also may be used under any conditions where it is desirable to relieve shock, vibration, etc., which are imposed by a steel cable or wire rope upon the sheave and the machine carrying the latter.

It has heretofore been proposed to use rubber as a cushioning medium in sheaves, but in all former constructions with which I am familiar, the rubber was merely placed between the cable carrying member and the hub under no compression except that due to the weight of the cable carrying member, and was displaced only by compression forces or shocks which it was expected to cushion upon radial movement of the cable carrying member with respect to the hub. As a result, the rubber in these former constructions did not always do a complete cushioning job and frequently required replacement due to excessive wear and tear. I have discovered that if the rubber is placed in the sheave so that it absorbs the forces and shocks While the rubber is mounted in shear and preloaded so that it is partially displaced ati all times, the cushioning action is much more satisfactory and the life of the rubber is increased. Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a sheave construction wherein the rubber is mounted in shear.

Another object is to provide a sheave construction in which a pair of annular rubber sandwiches are formed by bonding a rubber annulus between two metal plates, the sandwiches then being mounted under heavy presr sure on opposite sides of the cable carrying por tion of the sheave so that the rubber functions in shear in preloaded condition while absorbing the shocks and strains to which the sheave and the machine carrying it might otherwise be subjected.

A further object is to provide novel lockingv a double-decker sandwich, such unit then being mounted as a whole under heavy pressure on the hub so that the rubber will function'in shear and in preloaded condition as it absorbs shocks and strains, locking means similar to those previously referred to being provided for holding the rubber in preloaded condition.

Other objects and advantages will become ap parent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my resilient sheave,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. l, with the parts completely assembled and the rubber preloaded,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the parts of the sheave before they are locked in operative position, and before any compression is applied to preload the rubber,

Fig. 4 is a section through one of the rubber sandwiches,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the rubber under heavy pressure just prior to the parts being locked in operative position, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modied shave construction with the rubber bonded directly to the cableA carrying member and being preloaded Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 show the parts of one form of the sheave completely assembled, and this assembly includes an annular metallic hub IB preferably formed of steel. having spaced bronze bushings II press tted inside the hub. Adjacent one end, the outer periphery of the hub is provided with an annular integral flange I2, while adjacent its opposite end the hub is provided with an annular groove I3.

Fig. 4 shows one of the rubber sandwiches used with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which is indicated as a whole by the numeral I4, and which comprises a rubber annulus I5 bonded or vulcanized between inner and outer steel plates I6 and I1. The rubber may be bonded to the metal by any of the well known methods now in use for vulcanizing rubber to steel. As shown, the inner plate I6 is about one-third as thick as the outer plate Il 3 and is of larger outside diameter than the latter plate, but plate I6 has a central opening |8 of larger diameter than the central opening i9 in plate I1. However, the thickness oi these plates may be varied as found desirable. At diametrically opposite points adjacent its opening I9, the plate |1 is provided with lock pin receiving openings that extend partially through the plate. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that after bonding, the outer periphery of the rubber annulus I5 is about flush with the outer periphery of plate I1, but is slightly inwardly of the outer periphery of plate I6.Y 4,-'I?heinner periphery of the rubber member'is" duvecl as indicated at 2|, whereby at one side it is about iiush with the inner periphery of plate |6 and then decreases in thickf ness as itextends to about the inner periphery of plate I1. The purpose of mounting the rubber in this manner will be later'k explained."

The second rubber sandwich, indicated as a whole by the numeral I4 is identical in all respeets to the member I4, except-'that -no lock pin receiving openings are required, and thel parts of member I4' referred to with primed' numbers are identical withtheir unprimed counter- T arguement' caileearryingportion of the'sheave consistsotagsteelwheelelike member, indicated as wwhole bythe'nuineral 2?-, having an outer gen- Np'rovided with a tapered cablerecei'vingfgroove' 24,- and-having an integral bodyport'loniireducd in thickness so-as to provide annular* s'hotilclers-Z'Gadjacentv the juncture 'of thebodyandouter portions; A central open- 2is`providd ltr-wheel 2il of greater diameter than the outer diameter of hub I9, and annular grboves formed on' the sides of the body portion to reduce thel weight of the wheel. Y

v'ltefverring now-tofFig; 3, it will be observed how tipart's already describedA are assembled. First. the rubber sandwich I4 is passed over the hub lll'` until outer plate i1 engages the inner iao'eofnangc I 2, the respective diameters of the hub wenn@ plate I-I' being such as to permit the plate to be snugly iitted over the hub. Next, the wheel 22l-ispassed'over the hub until the side face of the body portion 25 engages inner plate ||il andfthef outer periphery of the latter plate snugly' engages' one of the shoulders 25. Then the second rubber sandwich |65 is snugly iitted over the hub until inner plate IS the face of body portion 25` and the outer periphery of plate |'8l snugly engages the other shoulder 2S. At this point in their assembly the parts will appear substantially as shown in Fig. 3 with plate I1 partly obstructing groove I3 before any compression lsapplied to preload the rubber.

'Ifwo semi-circular locking members 29 in the shape of halfrings are now placed on the outer periphery of hub I0 adjacent plate I1, and each member 29 carries a locking pin 30 force tted or otherwise securely held thereby. The thickness of? members 29 is slightly less than the width of groove I3 in the hub and the pins 3|! are of assize' tobe snugly received in openings 20 in plate' I1".

A heavy pressure, for example, about 20 tons, isnow appll'edto the outer face of plate il in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5 andthe rubber members I5 and I5' will be compressed, thereby allowing plate I1 to move along hub- III-a distance sufficient to allow the two locking'members 29 to be moved-into the groove I3. The plate' I1 must be moved from approximately the position shown in Fig. 3 to approximately the position shown in Fig. 5 in order to allow the locking members 2d with their protruding lockns 3G to be moved into groove I3. After the locking members 29 are in the groove I3 and each locking pin 3D is in alignment with one of the openings 2E, the pressure against plate I1 is gradually reduced until this plate returns to the position shown in Fig. 2, with the locking pins 33 extending into the openings 20.

When the parts were in their Fig. 3 position before any pressure was applied, the rubber members I5 and I5 were not sublectedto any stresses or strains. While the partsweredn their Fig. 5 position the rubber members were under substantial compression forces which displaces the rubber substantially as indicated in Fig. 5, and when the parts returned to their Fig. 2 position, which is their normal operative position, these compression forces-'werefnot completely removed. Hence, these rubbermeinbers may be said to be "preloaded since they are under compression in their operative position. This preloading of the rubber provides the force which maintains the locking members 29 in pro'per position so that the complete assemblyis heldtogether. Thiszfpreloading also-serves the purpose or: removing ten'-Y sional strains in the rubber and. thereforeim creases the useful life of the rubber.

New, it will 4be4 observed from Fig. 2 thatwhen:A the sheave assembly is mountedin any suitable manner on a. horizontal;shaft,suchA as the shaft 3 l, the cable carrying. member 22ciscushioned in a rubber mounting. in whichthe rubber is held in-v shear in preloaded..' condition, and4 in whichsubstantially all of theestressesto which the-rub-v ber is subjected areshear stresses. Due to the fact that the centralopenings I8 and I8' in plates-v I and I6. and the opening 21 in wheel 22 are of greater diameter than the outer diameter of hub Ill, a relative largev opening 32 is formed around-- the hub between plates I1 and I1', which opening provides ample space for cushioned movement of the cable carrying member toward and away from the hub in response. to shocks, vibration, etc., on a metal cable passing around the cable carrying member.

ln Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of sheave construction wherein the rubber annuli are bonded directly to the body portion 'of the cable carrying member. modified form of steel hub II!! is provided having spaced bronze bushings I I I press fitted inside this hub. Hub I0 is also provided adjacent one end with an annular integral ange I I2 of greater diameter than flange i2, and is further provided with an annular groove |I3 adjacent its opposite end, similar to groove I3.

A pair of rubber annuli ||5, generally similar to rubber members I5 and I5' are bonded between plates I |1., which are substantially similar to plates I1 and I1', and theI side faces of the body portion |25 of the cable carrying member |22. The latter member is of slightly dinerent shape than member 22, but has an integral:

generally tapered outer portion |23 having ay As shown. a slightly to be bonded to, as indicated'in Fig. 6. Also, in the modifled form of the invention, the central openings ||9 in plates I|| are of greater diameter than central opening |2'I in member |22. In the modified form of the invention, the rubber annuli also may be bonded to the .cable carrying member and the plates III by any of the well known methods now in use for vulcanizing rubber to steel. After the bonding process has been completed, the unit comprising cable carrying member |22, rubber annuli I I5, and plates I II is mounted as a whole on hub I l0.

To facilitate the mounting of this unit, hub I| has a shoulder portion |33 adjacent flange I I2 which is of smaller diameter than flange |I2 and which with the face of the latter flange snugly receives one of the plates ||1, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. To properly position the other plate II'I, an adapter ring |34 is snugly fitted over the hub I i0 until its flange |35 and shoulder |36 snugly engage the latter plate II'| in the manner shown in Fig. 6. The diameter of flange |35 is equal to the diameter of iiange I I2, and the diameter of shoulder |36 is equal to that of shoulder |33 so that the unit containing the members is properly balanced on the hub. On its outer side face, ring |34 is provided with oppositely disposed lock pin receiving openings |20 similar to the openings 20.

After the adapter ring |34' is in proper position against the adjacent plate III, heavy pressure is applied against the outer side face of this ring to compress the rubber annuli in the same manner that rubber members I5 and I5 were compressed. The pressure against ring |34 is continued until the latter has moved far enough to permit the locking members |29, identical with the similar members 29, and `having lock pins |30 identical with pins 30, to be moved into groove I I3 with pins |30 extending into openings |20. After the locking members |29 are in proper position, the pressure against ring |34 is reduced so that the elasticity of the rubber members will force ring |34 tightly against the locking members to hold this assembly together, but without completely relaxing the rubber members. Since the rubber members I5 are thus also under compression in their operative position, these rubber members are also preloaded Hence, when the modified sheave construction is suitably mounted on a horizontal shaft, such as the shaft |3I, the cable carrying member |22 is also cushioned in a rubber mounting in which the rubber is held in shear in preloaded condition. In fact, the modified construction functions in substantially the same manner as the first described construction, and is substantially identical therewith, except that the plates I6 and I6 are omitted from the modied construction. The opening |32 formed around the hub IIII, although of different shape than opening 32, provides ample space for cushioned movement of the cable carrying member |22 toward and away from the hub IIII.

My improved sheave constructions have been found to be very satisfactory in use on drilling rigs, and the life of the parts, including the rubber members has been greatly increased. It is to be understood that the term rubber as used herein includes any suitable natural or synthetic rubber or rubber-like material.

While I have shown and described the preferred forms of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these forms, and that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit 4of the invention or from the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheave construction comprising a hub having a peripheral flange adjacent one end thereof, locking means adjacent the other end of said hub, a unit mounted on ,said hub between said flange and said locking means, said unit comprising a cable carrying member having oppositely disposed side faces, a pair of rubber annuli each of which has one side face bonded directly to one of said side faces of said member, and a pair of plates each of which is bonded to one of the other side faces of said rubber annuli, the arrangement being such that said rubber annuli are preloaded and. mounted between said cable carrying member and said plates so as to absorb shear stresses imposed on the rubber by movement of said cable carrying member.

2. A sheave construction comprising a hub having a peripheral flange adjacent one end thereof, an adapter ring on said hub adjacent the other end thereof and having a peripheral flange, a unit mounted between said anges, said unit comprising a cable carrying member, a pair of plates spaced on opposite sides of said member, and rubber members bonded directly between said cable carrying member and each of said plates, and means for locking said unit between said flanges with the rubber members preloaded and in shear relationship with said cable carrying member and said plates.

3. A sheave construction of the character dened in claim 2 wherein said locking means is retained in operative position by a force 0btained from said preloaded rubber members.

4. A sheave construction comprising a hub having a peripheral ange adjacent one end thereof, locking means adjacent the other end of said hub, a cable carrying member surrounding said hub and movable toward and away from said hub, rubber cushioning members mounted between said cable carrying member and said hub with the rubber mounted in shear relationship with said cable carrying member, said rubber being preloaded by compression forces acting in the direction of said flange, and being held in preloaded condition by said locking means, said hub being provided with an annular groove adjacent the opposite end from said fiange, and said locking means including a pair of oppositely disposed semi-annular members receivable in said groove.

5. A sheave construction comprising a hub having a peripheral flange adjacent one end thereof, locking means adjacent the other end of said hub, a cable carrying member surrounding said hub and movable toward and away from said hub, rubber sandwiches mounted between said cable carrying member and said hub to cushion said movement of said member, said rubber in said sandwiches being mounted in shear relationship with said member, said rubber being preloaded by compression forces acting in the direction of said fiange, and being held in preloaded condition by said locking means, said hub being provided with an annular groove adjacent the opposite end from said flange, and said locking means including a pair of oppositely disposed semi-annular members receivable in said groove.

6. A `sheave construction comprising a hub having a peripheral flange adjacent one end thereof,. an adapter ring on said hub adjacent the other end thereof and having a peripheral ange, a unit mounted between said flanges, said unit comprising a cable carrying member, a pair of plates spaced on opposite sides of said member, and rubber members bonded directly between said cable carrying member and each of said plates, and means for looking said unit between said anges with the rubber members preloaded and in shear relationship with said cable carrying member and said plates, said hub being provided with an annular groove adjacent said adapter ring, and said locking means including a pair of oppositely disposed semi-annular members receivable in said groove.

iteierenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,894,432 Watson Jan. 1'7, 1933 m 2,033,862 Piron Mar. 10, 1936 2,172,641 Piron Sept. 12, 1939 2,175,118 Hirshfeldl Oct. -3, 1939 

